What can I blame my lapse on? Well, I could tell you that Hubs and I traveled to the Dominican Republic for his brother's wedding in July. I could tell you about how we've been busy trying to save our pitiful garden from complete ruin or about how we've been busy landscaping in the front yard (two new lilac bushes call our yard home). I suppose I could mention how I made curtains for the bathroom or about how I've resurrected a long forgotten quilting project. I've also read about 20 books, worked on my tan, and helped nurse Hubs back to health after he got a sprained ankle falling off a ladder at work. It has been a full summer for sure, but I guess I'd like to highlight the word "summer". Above all else, I've been taking full advantage of a summer without school work and Sunday school obligations. I've been lax in my blogging, so that I can enjoy swimming at the pool, going for leisurely bike rides to Starbucks (I'm a gold card member now), and watching long-forgotten movies.
This summer has been bliss and at some point, I'll try to backtrack to get everyone up to speed. For now however, I want to look forward because the Sandwich Fair is right around the corner. In just two weeks, Hubs and I have to deliver our goods to the fairgrounds. And this is a big year--this is the Sandwich's Fair's 125th anniversary. To celebrate the occasion, the fair committee has arranged special entry categories taken directly from the 1888 fair book. These special entries are unique items like tattering and embroidered hankies. What I love most is that whoever attempts to enter these special items gets a special 125th Fair ribbon.
Of course, my entry list this year probably exceeds my capabilities. I get so excited filling out my fair papers that I enter way more than is realistic. Without a doubt, this always leaves me standing in a piping hot kitchen on Labor Day, cursing under my breath--trying desperately to bake the world's greatest apple pie while I craft a sympathy card with my toes.
Here's my insane entry list for the year (divided up between me and Hubs):
Challah Bread
Banana Bread- no nuts or chocolate (this was a purple ribbon winner for us a few years back)
Cranberry Bread
Apple Muffins (3)
Scones (3)
German Chocolate Cake (2 layers, 8")
Apple Pie, 2 crust
Pineapple Jam (half pint)
Strawberry Jam (half pint)
Pear Butter (half pint)
Bread and Butter Pickles (pint)
Dill Pickles (Pint- why do I keep torturing myself with these?)
Catsup, boiled (pint)
Corn Relish (pint) *already finished
Sweet Pickle Relish (pint) *already finished
Salsa- Mild (pint) *already finished
Salsa- Hot (pint) *already finished
BBQ Sauce (pint)
Loaf Corn Bread (from the 1888 fair book)
Loaf Ginger Bread or Molasses Cake (from the 1888 fair book)
Pumpkin Pie (from the 1888 fair book)
12 Greeting Card Catagories- Birthday, Sympathy, Get Well, Bon Voyage, Christmas, etc.
I keep telling myself that it won't be the end of the world if I don't get everything done. This is especially critical this year because I'm having a 30th birthday soiree this Saturday. That's right- I'm turning the big 3-0. I'll blog more about that later if I can force myself to climb out from under the rock I'm hiding beneath. No- I am not happy about this milestone, but I'm going to party the heck out of it anyway. I can't let a valid excuse to dress fantastically go to waste, can I? I think not.
I'll check back with you all momentarily. While I type this, I am also slicing cucumbers for their future as bread and butter pickles. Oops- Judson snatched another slice. Darn, that dog is a true vegetarian wanna-be.
Blessings.
